Organizing and retention apparatus for bras

ABSTRACT

Bra organizing and retention apparatus, comprising an elongate flexible holder having multiple pockets interconnected to position the pockets in vertical sequence; means to open and close each pocket, for bra reception and removal, the pockets including flexible and perforated panel material to pass washing fluid during holder and bra tumbling, and bra cleaning as in a washing machine; and stiffeners integrated with the holder, to resist collapse of at least certain of the pockets, as during holder and bra tumbling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to organizing and retention apparatus for bras, and more particularly an apparatus which is easily and quickly usable, and enables washing or cleaning of bras, which protects bra shapes and positioning as during storage and cleaning.

There is need for improvement in compact, multiple use and simple functioning and handling of bra storage and organizer equipment. In particular there is need for the improvements in construction, operation and results as are disclosed herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a major object of the invention to provide improved apparatus meeting the needs as referred to. Basically, the bra organizing and retention apparatus, comprising in combination:

a) an elongated flexible holder having multiple pockets interconnected to position the pockets in vertical sequence,

b) means to open and close each pocket, for bra reception and removal,

c) the pockets including flexible and perforated panel material to pass washing fluid during holder and bra tumbling, and bra cleaning as in a washing machine,

d) stiffeners integrated with said holder, to resist collapse of at least certain of the pockets, as during said holder and bra tumbling.

Another object is to provide for bra organization in the pockets, as by location of dividers or vertical struts in the pockets retaining bra cups in separated position, and also by providing push together closures in the pockets cooperating with said struts and their purposes, as will be seen.

Another object is to provide zipper closures for pockets, above the dividers and struts, for ease of opening and closing the pockets and for aiding bra positioning upon insertion, and relative to the struts; and by also providing stiffeners which extend generally parallel to the zippers to prevent bunching and disfiguring zipper tracks, as may result from washing.

Yet another object includes locating the zippers and tracks to extend laterally, above the pockets, a first track carried by a pocket front wall, and a second track carried by that pocket rear wall.

A further object includes placing the apparatus in a washing machine receptacle that has a rotor that rotates, and locating the apparatus to extend about the rotor, and then operating the machine to agitate the apparatus with the zippers extending generally parallel to the rotor axis.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following specification and drawings, in which:

DRAWING DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a frontal view of preferred upright apparatus incorporating the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the FIG. 1 apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken on lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 3, but showing a pocket in open condition;

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged section taken on lines 5-5 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a front view of modified apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a front view of the preferred bra organizer and retention apparatus 10, having left and right vertical edges 11 and 12, and top and bottom laterally extending edges 13 and 14. The edges are defined by narrow bands 11 a-14 a of flexible, retentive material, such as plastic or cotton seam binding, or NYLON strapping. These hold together the edges of front and back walls 15 and 16 of the generally rectangular pockets 17 arranged in vertical sequences. The back walls 16 of the pockets may be defined by one continuous layer of perforated material, whereas the front walls 15 are defined by separate sheets of perforated material, to be opened and closed to allow bra 100 placement in and removal from the pockets. A preferred mesh material consists of NYLON stretch mesh.

The front wall 15 of a typical pocket has a lower horizontal edge 15 a attached to a narrow horizontal divider or binding strip 20 that extends laterally between vertically elongated binding strip portions 21 and 22 of vertical bands 11 a and 12 a. Wall 15 also has left and right vertically extending upright edge portions 20 b and 20 c attached to vertical binding strips 21 and 22. The horizontal top edge portion 20 d of the pocket carries a band 23 attached to front panel or wall 15. Band 23 carries lower zipper track 24, to be opened and closed relative to an upper zipper track 25, as by a zipper 26, these elements 23-26 typically consisting of plastic material. Upper track 25 is carried by a band 27 of material attached to the rear panel or wall 16, as seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. Elements 23-27 are resistant to cleaning fluid such as water and detergent. FIG. 3 shows the zipper tracks 24 and 25 closed by zipper 26, to close the pocket; and FIG. 4 shows the tracks pulled away from one another, in open condition, to allow entry and withdrawal at 30 of a bra to be stored and/or cleaned.

Bra protection and organization is furthered by provision of upright struts 32 in centered position in the pockets, and by releasable push-together closures 33, above the struts. Note in FIG. 1 the strut 32 extending upwardly in the pocket lower portion, and the closure 33 spaced above 32, within the pocket upper portion, leaving a pathway or gap 34 between the front and back walls 15 and 16 to receive and organize a bra 40 central portion 41, between cups 42. The strut may be formed by locally bonding together the front and back walls; and the closure 33 may be formed by two buttons 33 a and 33 b, respectively carried by walls 15 and 16, within the pocket, to be manually pushed together and releasably sealed, as for example by push-button connection. This vertically locates the bra, laterally in the pocket, with the cups retained in the left and right pocket portions, after downward insertion. See arrow 50 in FIG. 3. When the zipper closure above the pocket is opened, and buttons 33 a and 33 b released, the bra may be upwardly withdrawn from the pocket as after cleaning and for drying. The bra may be dried in the pocket, as by hanging the device from a door edge 54, via a clip 55, releasably holding handle 56.

It will be noted that provision is made for holding the device in position for upright and open hanging, despite device flexibility. See stiffeners such as rods 60 insertible lengthwise in laterally extending passages 61 located between successive pockets. A top stiffener 60 a may be attached to the rear side of the device as by binding 62, extending about the stiffener and into the top band 27. Also, such lateral parallel stiffeners allow loop-wrapping of the device as about a lateral axis 80, representing an impeller in a washing machine, for locating the apparatus in wrapped or partially wrapped position during washing, which in turn separates and organizes the bras in the pockets, during washing, i.e. prevents entangling. Further the rods are located in close relation to the flexible zippers and tracks to hold the zipper tracks in laterally extending, non-bent position, facilitating opening and closing of the pockets.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative pocket opening and closing, at the pocket end, by a vertically extending zipper and associated track 90. 

What is claimed is:
 1. Bra organizing and retention apparatus, comprising in combination: a) an elongated flexible holder having multiple pockets interconnected to position the pockets in vertical sequence, b) means to open and close each pocket, for bra reception and removal, c) the pockets including flexible and perforated panel material to pass washing fluid during holder and bra tumbling, and bra cleaning as in a washing machine, d) stiffeners integrated with said holder, to resist collapse of at least certain of the pockets, as during said holder and bra tumbling.
 2. The combination of claim 1 including dividers, in the pockets to hold the bras in laterally extended configuration, in the pockets.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the dividers extend generally vertically to laterally separate cups of each bra.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means comprises zippers.
 5. The combination of claim 3 wherein said means include pressure sensitive closure material, located in alignment with said dividers.
 6. The combination of claim 1 including a first top lateral support rod supporting the holder to hang, as during drying, with the pockets extending laterally.
 7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said means also include pressure sensitive closure material to locally interconnect front and back pocket walls, generally mid-way between lateral ends of the pockets.
 8. The combination of claim 6 including at least one additional rod located below said first rod and extending laterally between successive pockets, and in close parallel relation to a zipper.
 9. The combination of claim 1 including support rods extending laterally between vertically successive pockets.
 10. The combination of claim 1 wherein said b) means is located vertically between successive pockets.
 11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said b) means include a zipper and first and second zipper tracks extending laterally, the first track carried by a pocket front wall, and the second track carried by that pocket rear wall.
 12. The combination of claim 1 wherein said b) means is located at lateral end portions of pockets.
 13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said b) means includes a zipper and first and second zipper tracks extending laterally, above the pockets the first track carried by a pocket front wall, and the second track carried by that pocket rear wall, said walls being perforated and flexible extending away from said tracks.
 14. The method that includes providing apparatus as defined in claim 1, and then placing said apparatus in a washing machine receptacle that has a rotor that rotates, and locating the apparatus to extend about the rotor, and then operating the machine to agitate the apparatus with the zippers extending generally parallel to the rotor axis. 